Trump's Trade Pressure: India's Economy at Risk Over Russian Oil, US Deals

• US President Donald Trump links US market access to India's policy choices, using tariffs as leverage.
• Steep tariffs on Indian goods, including a Russia-linked levy, threaten export competitiveness in the US market.
• India faces pressure to cut Russian oil imports and place defence orders with American firms to ease trade tensions.
• Reliance on discounted Russian crude for economic stability and inflation control is now under external scrutiny.
• Trump's rhetoric shifts US-India ties from strategic convergence to a mercantilist lens, injecting economic uncertainty.

Why It Matters: Trump's trade rhetoric forces India to re-evaluate economic strategy amid US pressure on oil and defence.